It is impossible to make people better drivers. Of course
there are ways to try to teach the public and requirements to get a license,
but the most effective way to improve street safety is by implementing more
road signs and making sure that these signs are clearly visible and
understandable. This will reduce the amount of accidents on any street. More
signs must coincide with the enforcement of those rules. In order for a
community to function, the rules that are put in place must be enforced. Raised
awareness, hopefully, influences the driver’s decision to obey the traffic
light. This reduces risk of traffic accidents that could potentially result in
an injury or a fatality. As traffic safety is a major public health concern, we
think that video enforcement of traffic lights is public health in action.
On the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Fletcher
Ave. there are a series of
cameras that are designed to take the picture of a car’s
license plate, should it cross the intersection illegally during a red light.
This serves as a deterrent for people who like to speed across the intersection
when they see a yellow traffic light. The yellow light is intended as a warning
that the red light is coming, not as a sign to speed up. When the light turns
red, other lanes are given a green light, which means that other cars will be
coming into the intersection. If there are still cars passing from another lane
the result will end in a collision and possibly injuries to people. FHP
(Florida Highway Patrol) says, “more than 1,400 crashes in the state were
caused by red light runners last year, killing 56 people and injuring more than
5,000.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
“ASE, if used, is one technology available to law enforcement as a supplement
and not a replacement for traditional enforcement operations.” Many advantages
of the ASE program are the high rates of violation detection, physical safety
of ASE operators and motorists, fairness of operation, and efficient use of
resources. The results from myfox Tampa Bay are the first 12,629 citations
resulted from cameras at only four intersections; second, violations have
dropped so dramatically at one intersection that the revenue no longer covers
the cost of the equipment at that intersection.
In conclusion, these street cameras reduce and prevent the amount of
crashes, fatalities and injuries to pedestrians, bike riders and other drivers;
therefore the red light cameras are a form of primary prevention.
I agree that this is public health due to the prevention of injury and promotion of future health aspects. It was shocking to see the statistics on the amount of crashes caused by red lights and the unfortunate results. The reduction in violations as a result of the cameras proves that this primary prevention is a effective way to stop the high rates of injuries occuring from these accidents. Hopefully the positive results will continue to rise because of these cameras.
ReplyDeletePersonally I have racked up quite a few red light tickets alone in Tampa, which has made me a better driver today. Within the few years that I have had a license I would always accelerate when I saw a yellow light, now I stop. Traffic cameras are a great way to enforce public health because they encourage the public to be more aware and caution of there environment and traffic laws. In addition they are beneficial to the county, now Police can spend less man hours on traffic stops, and concentrate of more important crimes. It also generates additional income for the city in the form of $148 red light tickets.
ReplyDeleteI personally hate these things, i just paid off my second ticket and have learned my lesson. aren't these being debated in court, some states have them and some states dont, isnt that why we have cops. i think may be the price of the ticket is just too much, if they lowered the price then may be it would be acceptable to keep these photo enforced cameras at traffic lights.
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